closer examination of it convinced me that it was not the holy Latin cross which we adore," &c. "I wish it were in my power to explain the signification of the historical figures which so conspicuously adorn the walls of these Temples, a task less difficult than to decypher the meaning of the hieroglyphics. It would appear that this nation had two methods of expressing its ideas, the one by letters or alphabetical signs, the other by obscure and mysterious symbols. These symbols, infinitely diversified in form, were disposed in parallel rows, both vertically and horizontally on the same stone, so as frequently to form right, but never acute-angles; this peculiarity in their arrangement is not unworthy of attention. In each line the same kind of symbols often occur; and the human heads, which are always in profile, are uniformly turned to the left: a circumstance which leads me to suppose, that like Hebrew writings, those inscriptions were read from right to left." Ibid. d. 481. "These immense ruins," he adds, "scattered over a vast tract of country, and the greater portion of them buried beneath the soil, awaken in the mind of the spectator, the liveliest feelings of curiosity and interest." Ibid. 483. The following passage is extracted from Don Antonio Del Rio's narrative of his visit to the ruins of Palenque, in which he takes occasion to mention other ancient Temples in Yutican. "The Reverend Father De Soga, a Franciscan Friar, many years collector of alms destined for the holy house at Jerusalem, who in prosecuting the duties imposed upon him from his situation, repeatedly traversed the province; fortunately happening to be at Palenque, favoured me with a circumstantial account of that country, of which I now avail myself in his own words: At the distance of twenty leagues from Meridas southward, are remains of some stone edifices; one very large building has withstood the ravages of time, &c. The natives give it the name of Oxmutl. It stands on an eminence, and measures 200 yards on each façade. The apartments of the exterior corridor, contain pillars with figures in medio-relievo, and are decorated with serpents, &c. in stucco, besides which are statues of men with palms in their hands in the act of beating drums, and dancing, resembling in every respect those observable in the buildings of Palenque," &c. 201 PERUVIANS. THE Peruvian History is enveloped in an obscurity which the destruction of their historical records has greatly augmented. Boturini thus laments in a letter to Charles v. these barbarous acts of the faith." These burnings have been frequent and very fatal in New Spain. The Indians deplore them, and so do the Spaniards; and I lament them because I am convinced that these ancient paintings contained not only particular notices of great literary treasures, but likewise of immense treasures stored up in the times of paganism," &c. "I do not despair of being able to perform some day or other, a notable service to your Majesty.” Antiq. Mex. p. 407. This work does not admit of giving a detailed account of the character and incidents of the 14 successive Incas who reigned in Peru. Those of the mysterious reformer,1 Mango Capac, of Pacha Cutec the ninth in order, of Tupac Yupanqui, and Huania Capac his son, furnish not a few of those illustrative analogies which it is the object of the present re 1 This reformation seems by the account of Balboa, and other writers, to have been preceded by the earlier reformation by Verachocha, and his companions. "From the Ms. of Balboa, some extracts are given relating to the appearance of certain holy men in Peru who preached anew the LAW to the nations, wore long beards and decent apparel, &c. as also of the famous council-general convoked at Cuzco, by the Inca Yupanqui, for the abolition of the undue homage which the people paid to the sun, and the promulgation of the decree that TICI VERACHOCHA PACHAMAC, was the supreme God the Creator of the universe (cosa notable y de admiracion) as Balboa terms it, to which all the religious orders in the states were summoned, the Inca himself presiding at the solemn conclave." Ibid. v. p. 522, notes. A lord named Cortice Verachocha, came forth from a lake which is in the province of Callasugo, and brought along with him a certain number of persons."-Ibid. p. 404. search to concentrate: brief notices therefore of these, may suffice to augment the sum of evidence. Manco Capac is generally spoken of by historians as having introduced the worship of the sun; this mistake seems to have arisen from the title of the GREAT LIGHT, by which many branches of the Indian people characterised the Creator, and this is perfectly scriptural, as we are taught to consider the sun as a symbol or representation of that Great moral Light and Life, which is emphatically called the "Sun of Righteousness." The sun is illustrative of the Divine power and Godhead, as well as are all the other works of the Creator; the term Great Light, and its symbol the sun, seem to have been considered by historians a synonyme; and therefore they have erroneously charged the Incas with the worship of the sun, instead of the Great moral Light by whom as men, and as a community, they were greatly enlightened." "Their kings, the Incas," says Garcillassó, (a descendant of the Incas,) " and the amautas (philosophers) had some idea of our Sovereign LORD the Creator, whom they called Pachacamac; Pacha, signifies the world, and camac is derived from the verb camar, to animate; cama is the soul. The Indians regarded Pachacamac as the Sovereign Creator and Preserver of all things here below; they adored Him in their hearts as the invisible God; they, however, neither built temples nor offered sacrifice in His Name; but whenever it was pronounced, or that of the sun, or of the king, it was always with the most reverential awe." Vega, b. 2. ch. 2. in Histor. Researches. 1 When a Curacu was brought before the Spanish Judge at Cuezco, he was presented with a cross that he might swear to the truth. The Indian replied, that he did not imagine that he had been baptized to swear like the Christians. The Judge then desired him to swear by his own gods, &c. "You are mistaken," said he "if you think I will profane that sacred NAME; it is never to be mentioned but in adoration. You ought to be contented with my word; but if you are not, I will swear by the earth, and wish that it may open and engulph me if I do not tell the truth." Vega in Histor. Research: ch. ii. p. 143. The Inca Tupac Yupanqui XI. said, "Many believe that the sun is a living body, and that he creates whatever exists. If this were the truth, he would not confine himself to the same eternal path. We must consider him to be like an arrow which performs the duty intended by the Archer who sped it."-Vega, vol. ii. p. 93. "The respect paid to the sun must have been as the symbol of Divine beneficence; even as that paid to their kings as the viceroys and representatives of the Creator, whom they likewise acknowledged as their Redeemer and Sovereign. A long series of ages had, it appears, produced the usual effect on a people without the written standard of appeal, and without that communion and interchange of thought which constitutes writing a blessing or a curse-a great benefit or a great evil. From this retrograde state, the Peruvians were at once recalled by the arrival of a mysterious man and woman who were first seen on the border of the lake Titiaca. "They were still in this state," observes the author of Historical Researches, chap. 2. p. 55. “ when, we are told, there appeared on the banks of the Lake Titiaca, a man and woman of majestic form, and clothed in decent garments. They were persons of excellent shape and beauty." The titles which these personages bore, were Mango Capac, (chief governor, splendid and rich in virtue) and that of his sister Mamanchic, empress and motherly protector of his subjects. See Vega, b. 1. ch. 26, in Hist. Resear. c. 2, p. 56. "These benefactors first told the people that their Father taking pity of their miserable condition, had sent them to reclaim them from their erring ways, to give them laws, teach them morality, and to worship the Great Light who gave life to all creatures," &c. "In fine, that they were expressly sent to govern them for their benefit and happi |